Ski binding



ug- ,8, 195D l.. A. MAJNERI 2,517,795

SKI*V BINDING- Filed Nov. 24, 1947 2 sheds-sheet 1 INVEN TOR. LUDWIG A. MAJNERI ATTORNEYS.

wml/wf@ L. A. MAJNERI SKI BINDING Aug. s, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed No?. 2,4, 1947 INVENTOR wams A. MAJNERI. Y

BY y

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 8, `195() SKI BINDING Ludwig A. Majneri, Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Application November 24, 1947, Serial No. 787,808

(C1. :ESD-1135) l1 Claims.

This invention relates generally to ski bindings, and refers more particularly to improvements in bindings of the type having provision for clamping the toe as well as the heel of a boot to a ski. y

Ski bindings of the above general type are usu ally designed to firmly hold a boot on a ski against movement relative to the ski either transverse or longitudinally of the ski and may be adjusted to aiord very little lift of the boot heel. Although ski bindings capable of firmly holding a boot on a ski are a prerequisite to advanced skiing, nevertheless, they are dangerous, especially for beginners and are the direct cause of many leg breaks. s

Leg breaks during skiing may result when the strain on the feet of the skier reaches a point y where the leg bone of the skier breaks, andit is an object of this invention to provide a binding which will release the boot before this point of strain is reached.

A more detailed object of this invention is to provide a ski binding having toe irons adapted to clamp a boot therebetweenand relatively movable to release the boot in response to the application of an abnormal or a predetermined force on one or both toe irons in a generally outward direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ski binding having releasable means for holding the relatively movable toe irons in their boot clamping positions with a force which may be readily varied to suit the strength characteristics ofthe particular skier using the binding. One way of accomplishing the above result is to tie the toe irons together with a breakable cord wrapped around the toe irons with a number of turns, depending on the strain point at which it is desired to break the cord and release the toe irons from clamping engagement with the boot.

Still another feature of this invention is to provide a ski binding wherein one or both of the side toe irons are hinged to a supporting member for outward swinging movement and wherein the releasable means serve to normally hold the toe irons in their upright or boot clamping positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ski binding wherein the hinged side toe irons are positively located in their upright or boot clamping positions by stop means in the form of projections depending from the front ends of the toe irons and engageable with a"sup" s 2 y wherein a plate extends upwardly from the supporting member at the front end of the boot, and in addition to having provision for engagement with the sole of the boot for holding the same i down against the supporting member, further provides an anchorage around which the breakable cord or linear element for the toe irons may be wound. Thus the toe irons may be individually tied to the anchorage with different numbers of turns of the cord, and as a result, the force required to release one toe iron may be different than the force necessary to release the other.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a ski binding constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 `is a fragmentary plan view partly broken away of the ski binding shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

s Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; s

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of a modified attachable to the ski in the usual manner by suitable fastener elements and adapted to form a support for the boot I2.

In accordance with orthodox practice, the toe portion of the boot I2 is clamped in place on the ski I0 by a pair of toe irons in the form of elongatedplates I4, respectively carried by a toe plate I5 shown in Figure 3 of the drawings as secured to the ski at the front end of the supporting member I3. `Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the toe irons convergeA from the rear end of the toe plate, and are in` clined inwardly with respect to the opposite sides of the boot to actually wedge the toe portion of the boot in position on the ski.

In many instances it is desirable to provide a construction which enables adjusting the angle of convergence of the toe irons to compensate fordiferent types of boots, and to assure propere ly clamping a particular boot in place. One construction used in the past for accomplishing the above result is to provide laterally inwardly extending flanges lE at the bottom edge of each toe iron. These flanges are slidably supported on the toe Aplate l5, and are normally concealed by a cover plate Il suitably secured in place by fastener elements in the form of screws I8. Certain of the screws I8 pass through elongated slots IQ formed in the flanges I6 to enable the unobstructed pivotal movement of the flanges I6 required to adjust the angular relation of the toe irons relative to the boot. The desired adjustment of the toe irons is eected by suitable screws 2li arranged in pairs with one pair associated with each ange IG. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the screws 20 of each pair are respectively positioned at opposite ends of the associated iiange I6, and the heads of the two pairs of screws are respectively accessible for manipulation from opposite sides of the binding. Each screw 2t is formed with an enlarged-annular portion 2i having the top part extending into a suitable slot 22 formed in the cover plate I1, and having the bottom part engaging the toe plate I5. Thus the screws 2E] are anchored against axial movement relative to the toe plate. Threadably mounted on each screw `20 is a nut 23 having a laterally inwardly extending projecu tion 24 pivotally connected to the adjacent edge portion of the associated iiange It. The arrangernent is such as to enable the toe irons to be moved bodily inwardly or outwardly or to be angularly adjusted by proper manipulation of the screws 2Q.

In the present instance the toe irons III are respectively connected to the outer edges vof the iianges I6 by hinges 25 enabling the toe irons I4 to be swung laterally outwardly from their upright or boot clamping positions shown 'in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive of the draw-ings. The toe irons III are located in their upright or boot clamping positions 'by suitable stop means associated with the front end portions Yof the toe irons. In detail the front ends of the toe irons are turned inwardly beyond the toe of the boot and are provided with depending projections 26. The projections 26 are adapted to rest against a suitable bearing plate 2l secured to the top surface of the ski in a, position in advance of the toe plate I5. The arrangement is such that when the projections 25 engage the bearing plate 21 in the manner shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the toe irons are located in their proper clamping positions with respect to the toe of the boot.

Inasmuoh as the toe irons cooperate with one another to clamping the toe portion of a boot in position on the ski, it vfollows that some means must be provided for holding the toe irons against outward swinging movement from their respective boot clamping positions. In general this is accomplished herein by releasa'ble means 28 adapted to resist outward swinging movement of the toe irons with a force predetermined to ef fectively hold the toe irons in their boot clamping positions during normal skiing maneuvers, but less than any strain that may result in breaking the leg of the user. In detail a bracket 29 is secured to the ski IIl against the plate '2l by screws 30, and is provided with an upstanding flange 3l at the rear end thereof. The upstanding iiange 3l is positioned forwardly beyond the toe irons and extends transversely of the ski at such an elevation to protect to some extent the toe portion of the boot clamped between the toe irons. A fitting 32 is secured to the rear face of the ange 3| between the front end portions of the toe irons I4 and is provided with a rearwardly extending post 33. The post 33 is located midway between the front end portions of the toe irons and has an enlargement 34 at the rear end formed with a lip 35. The enlargement 34 acts as a stop to limit forward movement of the boot relative to the binding, and the lip 35 is adapted to engage the top surface of the sole of the boot to prevent upward displacement of the toe of the boot relative to the binding.

The inwardly curved front end portion of each toe iron is provided with a rearwardly extending projection 4S, and these projections are adapted to assume positions laterally opposite from the post 33 'when the toe irons are in their boot clamping positions shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. In the present instance the projections ll are tied to the post t3 by a fiexible, nonresilient 'linear member in the form of a cord 4I. If desired the cord 4I may first be tied to the post 33 and may then be wound around the projections 4E) as well as the post 3d to secu-re the toe irons in their upright or boot clamping positions. The number of strands of the cord used to secure the toe irons in operative position is so determined with respect to the strength of the cord that the latter will release or break upon 'the application of an abnormal laterally outward force against one or both 'of the toe irons. The arrangement should be such that if for any reason lthe boot I2 is twisted in one ldirection or the other during skiing, the cord #I will break before the strain on the leg of the user reaches the breaking point. It will, of course, be understood that the cord Ill may be wound with more turns connect-ing one toe iron to the post 33 than the number of 'turns connecting the other toe iron to the post, so that the latter iron will be released rst. In fact various diierent arrangements may be resorted to to suit lthe wishes of the user. As another example, the vcord need not be wound around the center post 33 in which 'event it merely acts as a tie between the two toe irons. In any case the releasa-ble means 2B acts `as a safety device to minimize the danger of unduly straining or breaking the `ski'ers legs. Attention may be 'called to the fact at this time that the number oi turns or strands of `the cord used to connect the toe irons together -or to the center post 33 may be varied 'depending upon the strength of the legs of the particular user. This feature renders it possible to obtain the maximum safety for the particular user without altering the design 'or `construction of the ybind-i ing.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, 'the 'toe irons are provided with upstanding lugs 3 at the top edges thereof, and these lugs are slotted to receive a suitable toe strap not shown. This toe strap may be Vused in the i'eid to temporarily secure the toe irons in their operative 'positions after the cord M has released the toe irons. However, Ythe cord '4I may be very quickly replaced, and this practice is preferred 'from the kstandpoint of safety.

The means selected herein for holding the heel portion of the boot down 4against vthe ski is of orthodox design. In general this means comprises a cable 45 having a length of coil spring 46 at the rear end for engagement 'in the usual groove formed in the heel of the boot. The front conventional releasable clamp '47, which is `suitably secured to the ski Hl inadvance ofgthe boot l2. `The opposite sides `of the cable are attach-` able to the ski by suitable guidegbrackets 48and the extent of hold-down may be varied by adjusting the guide brackets toward and away from l the heel of the boot. 1 i

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 6 differs from` the rst,.described form of the` invention in that the releasable means for holding the toe irons in their operative positions is in the form of a `coil spring U. In this construction the inwardly curved front end portions of the toe irons may be provided with upstanding lugs 5l terminating at the `upper ends in hooks 52 for connection with opposite ends of the spring 5U. The strength of the spring is such as to permit outward swinging movement of the toe irons to release the boot in response to the application of abnormal laterally outwardly directed force against the toe irons. In this connection it will also be noted that the` hook portions `will release the spring upon initial outward swinging movement of the toe irons, so that the clamping action of the latter on the boot is definitely destroyed. With the above exception the construction may be identical to the one previously described, and corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A ski binding comprising a part attachable to a ski, a pair of toe irons respectively hingedly supported at opposite sides of the part, stop means on the toe irons for limiting inward swinging movement of the toe irons and lor locating the toe irons in a substantially upright position,

a member located between the toe irons and xed against swinging movement with said toe irons, and a non-yielding connection between the irons and said member constituting the sole means for holding the toe irons in said upright position and separable in response to the application of a predetermined force in an outward direction on the toe irons.

2. A ski binding comprising a part attachable to a ski, toe irons carried by the part in lateral spaced relationship to clamp a boot therebetween and relatively movable to release the boot, and a non-yielding tie between the toe irons constituting the sole means for holding the toe irons in their relative boot clamping positions and separable in response to the application of a predetermined force in an outward direction on one of the toe irons.

3. A ski binding comprising a part attachable to a ski, a pair of toe irons respectively hingedly supported on said part in lateral spaced relationship and normally located in a substantially upright position to clamp a boot therebetween, stop means for positively preventing inward swinging movement of the toe irons from the upright positions thereof, and a non-yielding tie between the toe irons normally resisting outward swinging movement of the toe irons and breakable in response to the application of a predetermined force on one or both of the toe irons in a generally outward direction.

4. A ski binding comprising a part attachable to a ski, a pair of toe irons respectively hingedly supported on said part in lateral spaced relationship and normally located in a substantially upright position to clamp a boot therebetween, stop means for positively preventing inward swinging movement of the toe irons from the upright positions thereof, and means normally resisting putward swinging movement of the toe irons including a length of cordconnecting the toe irons and adapted to break in response tothe applica.-` tion of a `predetermined force on one or bothof the toe irons in a generally outward direction.

`5. A ski 4binding comprising a part attachable to a ski, toe irons carried by said part in lateral spacedrelationshipto clamp a boot therebetween, means hingedly supporting one of the toe irons on said part enabling outward swinging movement of the latter toe iron from the boot, and means normally holding the hinged toe ironV in its clamping position relative to the boot including a flexible nonresilient linear member breakable to release said hinged toe iron in response to the application of a predetermined force on the hinged toe iron in an outward direction.

6. A ski binding comprising a part attachable to a ski, a pair of toe irons respectively hingedly supported on the part in lateral spaced relationship and normally located in a substantially upright position to clamp a boot therebetween, stop means for positively preventing inward swinging movement of the toe irons from the upright positions thereof, a member positioned between the toe irons at the front ends of the latter and fixed against swinging movement with the toe irons, and means resisting outward swinging movement of the toe` irons including a non-yielding cord respectively connecting the toe irons to said upright member and breakable in response to the application of a predetermined force on the toe irons in an outward direction.

7. A ski binding comprising a part attachable to a ski, a pair of toe irons respectively hingedly supported on the part in lateral spaced relationship and normally located in a substantially upright position to clamp a boot therebetween, stop means for positively preventing inward swinging movement of the toe irons from the upright positions thereof, a member positioned between the toe irons at the front ends of the latter and fixed against movement with said toe irons, a lateral projection extending from each toe iron adjacent the swinging edge thereof, and means resisting outward swinging movement of the toe irons including a linear element connected to said member and wound around the lateral projections on said toe irons, said element being breakable to release the toe irons in response to the application of a predetermined iorce on the toe irons in an outward direction.

8. A ski binding comprising a part attachable to a ski, a pair of toe irons respectively hingedly supported on the part in lateral spaced relationship and normally located in a substantially upl right position to clamp a boot therebetween, stop l yielding connection between the toe irons breakable in response to the application of an abnormal force on the toe irons in an outward direction to release the toe irons from the boot.

9. A ski binding comprising a part attachable to a ski, a toe iron hingedly supported at its bottom edge on said part, a member xed. against pivotal movement with the toe iron, and a breakable tie between the toe iron and member constituting the sole means for holding the toe iron in its upright position and breakable inresponse atraveoto the apolieation of an abnormaI force in an olitwarol direction against the toe iron to vpermit outward swinging movement of the toe iron frein its upright position.

l0. A ski binding comprising a bart attachable to ski, a pair of toe irons ningediy supported on said part in lateral spaced relationship and normally nei-1in a substantially upright. position to clamp a boot therebetween, a member xedagainst movement with the toe irons and having a; lip edapted to overhang the soie of the boot at' the front eno of the latter, means resisting swinging movement of the toe irons in an. outwarddirection -from their upright positions afore'e said including a flexible non-yielding linear inem ber respectively connecting the toe irons to said member and breakable in response to the appli"- ction of an' abnormal force on the toe irons in a' Outward direction,

1'1 A ski binding comprising a Vpart attachelble to a ski, toe irons carried by said part in lateral spaced relationship to clamp a boot therebetween,

8 ineens liin'gediy supporting one of 'the toe iront on said fiaitenabling outward 'swinging movei ment of the latter toe ironfrom the boot and means nrinally holding the hinged toe iron its clamping position relative to the boot irnH cludng a flexible non-resilient tie between the toe irons and breakable to release the hinged toe i'r'on in response to the application of a,- predetermined force in vain outward direction on the" hinged toe LUDWIG A. MlJNElRI REFERENCE-S CITED V The following references are of record' in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES 'PATENTS 

